Each year, Mel Bay Publications goes all-out to mount an expansive display of both newly released and traditionally best-selling products at the annual National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Show in Anaheim, California. Several of our office staff- from the president of the company to editors, telemarketers and road salesmen- not only manage the booth but have the opportunity to meet authors, old friends and industry associates, make new contacts, and see what the competition has to offer. The NAMM Show is open to industry affiliates only and entry by the general public is ostensibly discouraged. If you manage to acquire a "dealer pass", however, you're in!

Mel Bay telemarketer Beverly Hoeft with percussion author James Morton.

New for NAMM this year, Mel Bay Publications released a DVD of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet called LAGQ Live!, the first of our new guitar-hits-by-rote instruction series- Richard Gilewitz: All-Time Favorite Fingerpicking Guitar Tunes, Volume One, a new series of chord books in various styles called Blues/Rock/Jazz Guitar Photo Chords, and significantly, John LeVan's comprehensive Guitar Setup, Maintenance & Repair.

Authors of Jazz Guitar Stylings of Howard Roberts.

Several Mel Bay authors performed within the confines of the NAMM Show itself in the Anaheim Convention Center, and still others were involved in what I would call "satellite concerts" in Anaheim and other southern California communities. For example, Corey Christiansen, our senior music editor and jazz guitar clinician, played with John Pisano at his regular Tuesday gig at Spazio, commonly referred to as "Guitar Night". Corey reports:

Mel Bay guitar author Mordy Ferber with company president, William Bay.

Throw a rock into Spazio on any Tuesday and you're likely to hit a good guitar player. "Headlining the night before NAMM is really playing for the jury, because the convention brings out so many wonderful players. This year it was a special thrill to play with Andy Summers, one of my early guitar heroes. John has really created a wonderful scene at Spazio that brings local and visiting guitarists together once a week.

Bryndon Bay with Axel Mütze of AMA Verlag, Germany.

Mel Bay authors Jim Goodin and John Stowell performed together with Adam Werner and Welsh guitarist Kelvyn in Jim's Language of 3 concert at The Coffee Gallery Backstage in Altadena and at his companions' gig at Kava Dume in Agoura Hills. Jim went on to play a series of solo gigs at area Sam Ash stores. (See "Author News")

Conga drum author, Paoli Mattioli.

In addition to being present for the release of his All-Time Favorite Fingerpicking Guitar Tunes, Volume One, the ubiquitous Richard Gilewitz performed in the booths of endorsers Shubb Capos, Breedlove Guitars, and L.R. Baggs Pickups. Be sure to read Richard's humorous take on the NAMM Show in "L.A. Scene" in this same issue of Guitar Sessions.

Muriel Anderson’s All-Star Guitar Night featured many women of the guitar. Photo by Jim Goodin.

Finally, Mel Bay author Muriel Anderson once again staged her All-Star Guitar Night, a NAMM Show staple in the last dozen years. This year's performance at the Anaheim Hilton featured: Kaki King, Patty Larkin, Jennifer Batten, Mel Bay author Mimi Fox, Ellen McIlwaine, Vicki Genfan, Alex Houghton as well as Charlie Haden, Pete Huttlinger, Stanley Jordan, Chapman Stick player and soon-to-be Mel Bay author Steve Adelson, Robert Conti, Gil Parris, Nick Sterling, and Jeff Berlin with Paul Wertico and Richard Drexler.

Sincere thanks to the organizers and everyone who stopped by the Mel Bay booth at the 2006 Winter NAMM Show!